>>BACKYARD FARMER IS A CO-PRODUCTION OF NEBRASKA PUBLIC MEDIA AND NEBRASKA EXTENSION.

TONIGHT, ON BACKYARD FARMER.

WE'LL RETURN TO VALENTINE AND TOUR THEIR DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION AND SHOW YOU THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE IN THE GARDEN.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP NEXT RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARMER.

>>HELLO AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL TAPED EDITION OF BACKYARD FARMER.

I'M KIM TODD, AND WE'RE HAPPY YOU COULD JOIN US FOR ANOTHER HOUR OF GOOD GARDENING.

SINCE THIS IS A TAPED PROGRAM, WE WON'T BE TAKING THOSE CALLS TONIGHT.

BUT YOU CAN STILL SEND US PICTURES AND EMAILED QUESTIONS FOR FUTURE SHOW TO BYF@UNL.EDU.

PLEASE TELL US AS MUCH AS YOU CAN ABOUT YOUR QUESTION AND ALSO TELL US WHERE YOU LIVE.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR EXCLUSIVE CONTENT ON OUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND OUR FACEBOOK PAGE.

SO AS ALWAYS, LET'S START WITH SAMPLES.

KATE, YOURS IS RATHER TERRIFYING AND PEOPLE ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THIS.

>>WELL, SHOUT OUT TO MY NEIGHBOR BECAUSE THEY'RE ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE THEIR WORMS WITH ME.

THIS IS THE, INVASIVE JUMPING WORM.

AND SO THEY LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR TO EARTHWORMS.

BUT THERE'S SOME WAYS THAT YOU CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE.

AND THE FIRST WAY IS JUST BY THEIR BEHAVIOR.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THEY THRASH AROUND KIND OF LIKE A SNAKE.

BUT WE CAN ALSO TELL THAT IT'S AN INVASIVE JUMPING WORM BECAUSE OF THIS BAND ON THE WORM THAT'S CALLED A CLITELLUM.

ON EARTHWORMS, IT'S MORE OF A PINKISH COLOR.

BUT IF YOU CAN SEE HERE UP CLOSE ON THE JUMPING WORM, IT'S MORE WHITE, KIND OF A MILKY WHITE COLOR.

AND THEY'RE ALSO KIND OF RUBBERY IN TEXTURE, TOO.

BUT THESE GUYS CONSUME ORGANIC MATTER SO QUICKLY THAT IT KIND OF DEPLETES THE NUTRIENTS FROM THE SOIL.

SO UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NO EPA REGISTERED PESTICIDES FOR JUMPING WORMS.

SO THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS JUST PRACTICE PREVENTION AND CHECKING THE SOIL BEFORE WE PLANT SOMETHING IN THE LANDSCAPE.

>>HOW DO YOU PREVENT.

>>JUST CHECKING, WASHING THE ROOTS AND, JUST LOOKING FOR WORMS BEFORE YOU PLANT.

IT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL YOU CAN DO AT THIS POINT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

JEFF, YOUR SAMPLE IS SAD.

>>IT'S A DISAPPOINTMENT.

I KNOW.

I THOUGHT I'LL DO BINDWEED.

IT'LL LIVE THROUGH ANYTHING BUT IT APPARENTLY DIDN'T LIVE THROUGH BEING BEING TRANSPLANTED.

SO ANYWAY, I BROUGHT BINDWEED.

IT'S IN FLOWER RIGHT NOW.

IT'S, A WONDERFUL FLOWERING LITTLE PERENNIAL, YOU'LL SEE, WITH THE PASTEL FLOWERS OF PINK AND WHITE, OUT THERE ON YOUR LAWN OR ON YOUR CHAIN LINK FENCE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S A PERENNIAL.

IT'S ROSE OMINOUS.

ITS SEED LASTS FOR HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

SO YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO LET IT FLOWER AND PRODUCE SEED.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AND YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND PULL IT IF YOU LIKE.

IT'LL COME BACK FROM THOSE, FROM THOSE AREAS, AND YOU'RE NOT LIKELY TO KILL IT, BUT AT LEAST YOU WON'T HAVE IT PRODUCE ANY MORE SEED.

AND THEN AGAIN, LOOK AT OUR TYPICAL, RECOMMENDATION OF A LATE AUGUST SEPTEMBER THREE-WAY WEED KILLER TO TRY TO GET THOSE SPOTS.

>>ALL RIGHT?

AND, PULL IT AND KILL IT LIKE THAT.

>>YEAH, RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT, KYLE, THAT'S AN UNFORTUNATE HYDRANGEA.

>>THE FLOWERS ARE KIND OF PRETTY, THOUGH, RIGHT?

AND EVEN SOME OF THE FLOWERS ARE NICE AND BROWN AND DEAD AND FULL OF BACTERIA.

SO THIS IS AN OAK LEAF HYDRANGEA THAT HAS BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT ON IT.

AND SO WE HAVE ALL OF THESE KIND OF DARK PURPLE OR ALMOST BROWN LESIONS THAT ARE KIND OF ANGULAR ON THEM.

AND WHEN WE CUT THESE LESIONS OPEN, LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE MICROSCOPE, JUST MILLIONS OF BACTERIAL CELLS CAME, CAME OOZING OUT.

IN ADDITION, THOUGH IT IS IT IS ALSO KILLING THE, SOME OF THE FLOWERS AS WELL.

AND SO THE DISCOLORATION ON THE FLOWERS IS DUE TO THAT BACTERIA.

AS WELL, LIKE A LOT OF OUR BACTERIA, IT LIKES WARM, MOIST CONDITIONS.

AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT THE WEATHER'S BEEN LIKE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S BEEN HOT, IT'S BEEN WET.

BEEN PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR FOR THIS DISEASE.

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT IT?

LEARN TO LOVE IT AND ENJOY.

ENJOY HAVING FLOWERS WITH SOME MORE COLOR.

THEY'RE NOT JUST WHITE NOW.

THEY'RE WHITE AND BROWN.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KYLE.

SCOTT, YOU GET THE BEAUTY.

THANK HEAVENS.

BASED ON WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE BROUGHT TONIGHT.

>>YEAH, THESE ARE DEFINITELY NOT, WHITE AND BROWN.

LILIES.

LILIES ARE, UNDER USED, OFF COLOR PERENNIALS THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO YOUR LANDSCAPE.

AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, WE HAVE A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT ONES THAT YOU CAN WORK WITH.

LILIES BLOOMED THROUGHOUT, LATE JUNE THROUGH JULY.

SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY STAGGER YOUR BLOOM TIME, KIND OF LIKE WHAT YOU COULD DO WITH TULIPS SO THAT WE COULD CONTINUE TO, HAVE THAT CONTINUOUS BLOOM, THAT PERPETUAL FLOWER.

IT'S JUST LIKE A LOT OF OUR BULBS.

WE PLANT THIS INTO FALL LILIES OR A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN PLANT THEM IN THE SPRINGTIME OR ALREADY GROWING, FROM LIVE PLANTS FROM THE GARDEN CENTER.

BUT WHAT YOU WANT TO YOU WANT WANTS TO KEEP THEM BLOOMING.

GO AHEAD AND DEAD HIT THEM.

IT WILL JUST REALLY HELP KEEP THE PLANT LOOKING CLEAN.

AND THAT PUTS THAT ENERGY BACK INTO NEXT YEAR'S PLANT.

BUT, THEY'RE REALLY GREAT THERE FRAGRANT TO MAKE A NICE CUP FLOWER.

>>WONDERFUL.

SCOTT AND I WISH OUR AUDIENCE COULD SMELL THEM, BECAUSE I THINK THE ENTIRE STUDIO SMELLS LIKE YOUR LILIES RIGHT NOW.

>>YES, YES.

>>ALL RIGHT, FIRST ROUND OF QUESTIONS.

KATE, YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS VERY FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WILBUR.

HE SAYS, WOULD THIS BE ROSE GALLS AND SHOULD THEY BE REMOVED?

>>YES.

SO THIS IS SPINY ROSE GALL.

THIS IS CAUSED BY A SMALL GALL WASP THAT HAS LAID AN EGG ON THE PLANT.

AND THEN THE PLANT OVERREACTS, FORMING THE GALL.

AND THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT, LIKE MOST GALLS ON PLANTS, IS THAT THEY'RE HARMLESS.

THEY JUST MAYBE DON'T LOOK VERY GOOD.

AND IN THIS CASE, WE DON'T RECOMMEND PESTICIDES.

BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM THERE, YOU CAN SIMPLY JUST PULL THEM OFF OR PRUNE THEM OUT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US COURTESY OF JODY.

THIS IS OMAHA.

WHAT IS THIS?

>>OH, THIS IS ANOTHER TYPE OF GALL.

THIS IS THE ELM COCKSCOMB GALL.

AND THESE ARE NOT CAUSED BY A WASP.

THESE ONES ARE ACTUALLY CAUSED BY APHIDS.

SO IF YOU CRACK THEM OPEN, I THINK THE THIRD PICTURE HERE, YOU'LL ACTUALLY SEE APHIDS ON THE INSIDE.

AND SO WITH THESE ONES, REALLY IMPORTANT.

JUST KEEP THE TREE OVERALL HEALTHY.

MAKE SURE THERE'S A NICE MULCH RING.

MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PROPERLY WATERED.

YOU KNOW, WE DON'T RECOMMEND SPRAYING FOR THESE BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THE NATURAL ENEMIES AND PREDATORS AROUND.

BUT IF ABSOLUTELY NEEDED, YOU CAN ALSO TRY AN INSECTICIDE DRENCH IN THE SPRING.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS JUST SORT OF FUN.

IT CAME TO US FROM NORFOLK, AND, SHE THINKS THIS IS A MONARCH CATERPILLAR, AND SHE THINK SHE'S WONDERING WHY IT PREFERS THE ROSES TO SEVEN MILKWEED PLANTS.

>>YEAH, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

SO IT IS A MONARCH CATERPILLAR.

AND WHAT I SUSPECT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IS THAT THE MONARCH IS ACTUALLY GETTING READY TO PUPATE.

AND SO THEY EXCLUSIVELY FEED ON MILKWEED, BUT WHEN THEY'RE READY TO FORM THEIR CHRYSALIS, THEY'LL LEAVE THEIR HOST PLANT LOOKING FOR SHELTER.

SO I KIND OF GUESS THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THIS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

OKAY, JEFF, TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

FIRST ONE.

THIS IS ONE THAT WE ACTUALLY, HAD LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, AND WE KIND OF SCRATCHED OUR HEADS ON IT, BUT NOW WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.

SO WHAT IS IT?

AND HOW DO YOU KILL IT?

>>YEAH, IT'S, IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL.

VIRGINIA COPPER LEAF.

AND IT CAN GET, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SEEDLINGS.

THESE ARE NEW.

SO THIS IS REALLY TO CONTROL IT RIGHT NOW.

THE EASIEST THING WOULD BE JUST TO MULCH.

SO 2 TO 3 INCHES OF MULCH WILL REALLY TAKE CARE OF THAT RIGHT NOW.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE SIMPLEST THING TO DO.

>>ALL RIGHT.

ANNUAL.

>>YES OKAY.

>>YEP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

JEFF, THIS COMES TO US FROM SPRINGVIEW WONDERING WHAT'S THE WAY TO STOP THE SPREAD OF THIS WEED.

PULL THEM ALL TWO YEARS AGO.

GOT A GOOD STAND OF GRASS.

NOW SHE'S GOT THESE AGAIN.

>>YEAH.

YOU KNOW, AND I LOOKED AND LOOKED AT THIS AND, YOU KNOW, I'M THINKING IT'S IN THE SPURGE FAMILY.

AND I WOULD SUGGEST AT THIS POINT AGAIN, WE'VE KIND OF TALKED ABOUT THE HEAT AND THE WEATHER AND ALL THAT SORT OF THING.

CONTINUE TO STICK WITH YOUR MOWING AGAIN, LIKE WE RECOMMEND OR LET IT GO TO SEED DON'T LET IT FLOWER.

AND THEN WE COULD LOOK AT DOING, A FALL THREE-WAY TREATMENT ON THAT, TO SET THIS BACK.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE PLANTED CONEFLOWERS LAST YEAR THEY LOOKED NICE.

AND THEN THESE STARTED SHOWING UP IN THE NEW CONEFLOWER.

ARE THEY KEEPERS OR NOT?

>>WELL IT DEPENDS.

THEY'RE VIRGINIA STICK SEED.

SO IT'S A NATIVE PLANT.

SO THERE ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF HAVING THAT PLANT IN THE GARDEN.

THE DOWNSIDE TO THEM IS THEY DO PRODUCE A STICKY SEED THING THAT WILL GET, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE PETS OR YOUR PANTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO THAT'S THE DOWNSIDE TO IT.

SO YOU KIND OF HAVE TO DECIDE, YOU KNOW, I GUESS LET IT FLOWER.

YOU CAN LOOK AT IT AND DECIDE FROM THERE IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

IT'S NOT VERY BEAUTIFUL IN FLOWER.

>>NO, NO.

AND I THINK WITH ALL OF THESE TOO, YOU KNOW, I LOOK AT A FULL PRE-EMERGENT IN THESE AREAS AS WELL.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

OKAY.

TWO PICS ON THIS.

FIRST ONE FOR YOU, KYLE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM A LOCATION BETWEEN CARSON AND TRAINER, IOWA.

OKAY.

SWEET CHERRY STARTING THE END OF MAY, ONE BRANCH SLOWLY DIED UNTIL EVERYTHING ABOVE IT LOST ITS LIFE.

IT WAS FINE FOR TWO YEARS.

ANY IDEAS?

>>NO.

WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THIS TREE, THOUGH, IT'S AT SOMETHING UNDERGROUND.

SO SOME SORT OF ROOT ISSUE.

MAYBE.

MAYBE THERE IS A ROOT ROT.

MAYBE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH PLANTING THAT'S FINALLY SHOWING UP.

SO I WOULD, WOULD DO A COUPLE OF THINGS ON THIS PLANT.

FIRST, I WOULD GET RID OF THE TREE WRAP THAT'S ON THERE.

THERE'S REALLY SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR TREE ROOT THIS TIME OF YEAR.

BUT THEN ALSO AND JUST KIND OF MONITOR THAT TREE, MAKE SURE IT'S GETTING PLENTY OF WATER AND I WOULD CHECK THOSE BRANCHES.

AND IF THEY'RE STILL BENDY AND MALLEABLE, THEN THE TREE IS STILL ALIVE.

AND IF YOU CAN BEND THOSE BRANCHES AND THEY SNAP LIKE FIRE CRACKERS, SORRY, I, IF THEY SNAP LIKE FIRECRACKERS, THEY, THAT TREE IS DEAD.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO IT.

LUCKILY, IT'S ONLY TWO YEARS OLD, SO IF IT IS DEAD, IT'S EASY TO REMOVE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND, SWEET CHERRIES ARE TRICKY ANYWAY.

OKAY.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE FOR YOU.

KYLE, SPEAKING OF CHERRIES, THIS IS NEAR HICKMAN.

THEY PLANTED A NEW CHERRY TREE THIS SPRING, AND IN THE LAST TWO DAYS, THE LEAVES OF ALL STARTED TURNING BROWN.

I THINK WE HAVE ANOTHER.

YEP.

THEY'RE DOING THAT.

>>YEAH.

AND THIS IS ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTAL ABIOTIC ISSUE.

PROBABLY A COMBINATION OF THE HEAT THAT COULD BE SOME TRANSPLANT SHOCK.

AGAIN I WOULD REMOVE THAT TREE WRAP AS WELL AND JUST CHECK THOSE BRANCHES, SEE IF THEY'RE ALIVE.

SEE IF THEY'RE DEAD.

IF THEY ARE ALIVE, MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING PLENTY OF MOISTURE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM TORRINGTON, WYOMING.

SHE'S ATTACHED A PICTURE OF WHAT SHE THINKS IS A MUSHROOM.

SHOULD SHE BE CONCERNED?

>>SHE SHOULD NOT BE CONCERNED.

THEY ARE MUSHROOMS.

THESE ARE STINK HORNS.

THEY ACTUALLY GROW FROM, HATCH FROM LITTLE EGG, ABOUT EIGHT INCHES DOWN IN THE DIRT.

THE TOP PART OF IT IS SUPER STINKY TO ATTRACT FLIES.

AND THEN THE FLIES LAND ON IT.

THE SPORES STICK TO THEIR LEGS AND THEY FLY AND SPREAD THOSE MUSHROOMS, THOUGH ONCE IT DRIES OUT, THEY WILL DISAPPEAR AND YOU WON'T SEE THEM AGAIN UNTIL NEXT YEAR.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KYLE.

ALL RIGHT.

SCOTT, TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE HERE.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO, HAS A LOBELIA IN THEIR HANGING PLANTERS.

THEY WERE DOING FINE, BUT THEN NOT.

AND WHAT IS THE DEAL WITH LOBELIA?

>>THEY'RE A FANTASTIC ANNUAL, BUT THEY DON'T LIKE HOT WEATHER.

AND WE, BOY DID WE HAVE SOME HOT WEATHER JUST A COUPLE WEEKENDS AGO.

SO I'M REALLY THINKING THAT WE HAVE SOME ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS.

THEY DON'T LIKE.

TOOK A WHILE IN BETWEEN WATERING SAID THE PLACEMENT OF THE POT.

WE USE THEM AS A SPILLER, SO WE MIGHT BE ON THAT EDGE OF THE POP WHERE THEY WERE NOT KEEPING HYDRATED.

BUT, THE HOT WEATHER IS JUST NOT THEIR FRIEND.

>>I SAW SOME IN ANOTHER LOCATION YESTERDAY THAT LOOKED THE SAME.

>>YEAH, YEAH.

>>ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SCOTT, THIS, SHE'S WONDERING WHAT HAPPENED WITH THIS HOSTA NEWLY PLANTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO.

PLANTED BY SOME USE WITH FOUR OTHERS THAT ARE NOT DOING THIS.

>>THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE, A LITTLE BIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS.

WE WANT TO IMPROVE THE GROWING CONDITIONS.

PUT SOME MULCH AROUND THE PLANT.

COULD HAVE A TOUCH OF A FUNGUS.

NOT FOR SURE WHICH ONE IT COULD BE, BUT IT'S BEEN STRESSFUL.

IT'S BEEN A STRESSFUL GROWING SEASON, SO MULCH, KEEP IT.

WELL, WATER.

TRY TO KEEP THE FOLIAGE DRY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND THIS NEXT ONE, WE'VE NEVER HAD THIS ONE BEFORE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM BRADSHAW.

THERE'S SOME INSECT DAMAGE, KATE.

BUT YOU DON'T GET IT.

THIS IS ERYSISTIBLE BRONZE ROSE HARISSA MOM.

PLANTED THIS SPRING.

FULL SUN.

LOOK LIKE THIS.

NO IMPROVEMENT.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

HERE.

>>WITH YOU, YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE IN THE PHOTOGRAPH.

BUT WHEN YOU KNOW IT HAS A BUNCH OF LITTLE HOLES.

THOSE HOLES COULD BE FROM MAYBE SLUGS, SNAILS, SOIL FLIES, OR WHO KNOWS?

BUT, THE PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE OKAY.

JUST, GOOD.

PLANT HEALTH CARE.

KEEP IT WELL HYDRATED, AND IT SHOULD MAKE SURE WE COVER.

BUT THAT PLANT TISSUE DOES NOT COME BACK.

IT DOESN'T KNIT BACK TOGETHER, SO IT SHOULD BE FINE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

IT'LL BE FUN TO SEE THAT IF IT FLOWERS.

>>YES >>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WELL, WELL, WE WERE IN VALENTINE IN THE SANDHILLS.

WE CHECKED OUT THE DOWNTOWN VALENTINE REVITALIZATION PROJECT, WHICH WAS A TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORT BRINGING NEW LIFE TO THE HEART OF THEIR COMMUNITY.

IT'S VERY COLLABORATIVE.

LOCAL LEADERS, BUSINESSES, RESIDENTS WHO BELIEVE IN BUILDING A BETTER VALENTINE FOR TODAY AND FUTURE GENERATIONS TO COME.

>>WE'RE IN THE HEART OF CHARMING VALENTINE, AND WE ARE TALKING TO MAYOR KYLE ARGANBRIGHT, ABOUT THIS GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN RENOVATION WHICH HAS REALLY REVITALIZED AT LEAST MAIN STREET.

IS THAT CORRECT, KYLE?

>>IT HAS.

IT HAS.

SINCE THEN, WE'VE SEEN, A LOT MORE TRAFFIC, MORE INVESTMENT.

IT'S JUST A PLACE PEOPLE WANT TO BE.

>>SO HOW DID THIS PROJECT GET STARTED AND WHY?

>>THIS IS THIS IS HIGHWAY 83.

SO IT'S PART OF THE STATE FEDERAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM.

WE'D WORKED WITH THE STATE BECAUSE IT WAS THE SECOND OLDEST CONCRETE IN THE STATE, AND THERE WAS SOME SOME REPAIRS NEEDED.

YEAH.

AND SO WHEN WE DID IT, WE COULD EITHER DO IT AS A STANDARD STREET, OR WE COULD CHOOSE TO MAKE IT A PLACE, AND WE CHOSE TO MAKE IT A PLACE.

>>SO YOUR GOALS AS A MAYOR AND AS A COMMUNITY FOR WHAT WE SEE AND WHAT HAPPENED HERE, WHAT WERE THOSE GOALS?

>>ALL THE GOALS WERE TO TO HEAR INPUT FROM LOCAL PEOPLE, THE CITIZENS, THE BUSINESSES.

BUT WE WANTED TO CREATE A PLACE THAT STOPPED MORE PEOPLE AS THEY'RE DRIVING THROUGH THAT GOT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO COME DOWNTOWN AND SPEND TIME WITH ONE ANOTHER, AND A PLACE THAT WOULD INSPIRE MORE BUSINESSES TO START AND RELOCATE TO MAIN STREET.

>>A PART OF THIS ALSO IS LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION.

TREES, SHRUBS, PERENNIALS.

TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT AND WHAT THAT HAS DONE FOR HIGHWAY.

>>YES.

WE WORKED WE WORKED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA'S, COLLEGE OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE.

THEY BROUGHT A TEAM OF STUDENTS UP SO THAT WE COULD START TO THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE ALSO WORKED WITH THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS AND THE CITIZENS INSTITUTE FOR RURAL DESIGN.

SO WE HAD ALL THESE BEST PRACTICES.

IT'S KIND OF THE FRAMEWORK, BUT WE WANTED IT TO BE VERY VALENTINE.

RIGHT.

SO WE USE SOME, SOME MAINSTAYS OF STREET TREES AND YOUR, HONEY LOCUST, YOUR KENTUCKY COFFEE TREE, YOUR BURR OAK.

BUT WE ALSO USED A QUAKING ASPEN, WHICH IS NATIVE TO VALENTINE, AND THEN A WHITE BIRCH.

AND THEN ALL THE PLANTS THAT ARE IN THERE ARE NATIVE TO THE SANDHILLS.

AND SO WE WANTED SOMETHING THAT WOULD REFLECT THE NIOBRARA RIVER AND THE SANDHILLS, BUT ALSO THAT WAS JUST GOING TO BE HARDY ENOUGH TO STAY HERE.

BUT THE POINT WAS TO MAKE IT, MAKE IT A MORE OF AN EXPERIENCE WALKING DOWN MAIN STREET, IT WAS HOPEFULLY QUIETER, HOPEFULLY COOLER.

WE HAVE NICE PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO SIT, TRASH CANS THAT ARE MAYBE A LITTLE ARTISTIC, AND THEN PIECES OF ART THROUGHOUT TOWN.

>>SO ON THAT SAME NOTE, THEN HOW PEOPLE RESPONDED TO IT AND DO YOU, WHAT DO YOU SEE FOR THE FUTURE?

DO YOU THINK FORWARD?

>>YEAH, I MEAN, I SEE SO WE'RE ALSO A CREATIVE DISTRICT.

AND SO THAT THAT LAYERED ON TOP OF THIS, IT'S KIND OF THE PERFECT FOUNDATION.

AND THEN THE PERFECT PROGRAM ON TOP OF IT.

SO WE SEE MORE PEOPLE DOWN HERE, WE SEE ART WALKS, NOW.

WE'RE SEEING THE BOUTIQUES.

THERE'S MORE TALKS OF SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT'S JUST IT'S JUST BECOME A PLACE AND AND REALISTICALLY, YOU CAN'T EXPECT THAT TO HAPPEN IF, IF THE CITY DOESN'T LEAD.

I MEAN, IF WE'VE GOT POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, WHO'S GOING TO INVEST IN THE BUILDINGS AROUND THAT POOR INFRASTRUCTURE?

AND SO IT'S KIND OF JUST RAISED THE BAR DOWNTOWN AND WE'RE EVEN SEEING SOME MORE REMODELS TOO.

>>SINCE YOU'RE GOING TO BE MAYOR FOR THE NEXT TWO OR THREE OR FOUR DECADES, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS YOUR NEXT GOALS FOR THIS PROJECT OR ANOTHER ONE IN VALENTINE?

>>IN VALENTINE, WE'VE GOT WE'VE THREE PRIMARY GOALS RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED HOUSING AND WE HAVE A HOUSING DEVELOPMENT LAID OUT THAT IS, THAT IS USING ALL THE BEST PRACTICES LIKE MAIN STREET, VIEW STREET, AND WE'RE WORKING ON A WELLNESS CENTER.

VALENTINE DOES GET A LITTLE COLD IN THE WINTER, BUT WE ALSO HAVE OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE OF OUR LOCATION, TO HAVE A LOT OF YOUTH ATHLETIC EVENTS REGIONALLY.

AND THEN WE'RE WORKING ON A CONVENTION CENTER AS WELL.

SO THOSE ARE THE BIG THREE.

AND, THE BALL BOUNCES OUR WAY.

I THINK WE'LL GET ALL THOSE KNOCKED OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS.

>>WONDERFUL.

>>SO THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT PLACE FOR US TO COME BACK TO.

AND ANYBODY ELSE WHO WANTS TO SEE ALL OF THE BEAUTY IN NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR MEETING US AND TALKING ABOUT IT.

>>YOU BET.

THANKS FOR COMING TO VALENTINE KIM.

>>WE HAD A REALLY GREAT TRIP OUT TO VALENTINE.

WE HAVE PLANS TO GO BACK.

SO WHETHER YOU'RE A LIFELONG RESIDENT OR YOU ARE A TOURIST PASSING THROUGH, THERE IS SO MUCH TO DISCOVER IN THAT HEART CITY.

THAT WAS REALLY A FUN TRIP.

LONG WAYS.

FUN.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S SEE.

KATE, ONE PICTURE ON THE FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

HE FOUND THESE BUGS IN THE HOUSE IN ROOMS CONTAINING HOUSE PLANTS.

HE THOUGHT THEY WERE DOG TICKS THAT ARRIVED WITH OVERNIGHT GUESTS.

>>YEAH.

SO, SOME UNFORTUNATE NEWS.

THESE ARE NOT TICKS.

IN FACT, THEY LOOK LIKE THEY'RE BEDBUGS.

AND SO A COUPLE OF RECOMMENDATIONS IS ONE, IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET A SAMPLE AND BRING IT TO YOUR NEAREST EXTENSION OFFICE TO HELP IDENTIFY THEM, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.

AND IF THEY ARE BEDBUGS, WE ALSO RECOMMEND CONTACTING A PEST MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL.

AND LASTLY, JUST THROWING OUT THE ADVICE DON'T PANIC.

BEDBUGS ARE COMMON AND WITH SOME HELP, YOU CAN GET RID OF THEM.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

KATE, THIS IS AN OMAHA.

VIEWER TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE.

WONDERING WHAT THIS WHITE STUFF IS ON THE BRANCHES OF HIS EASTERN WHITE PINES.

HE DID HOSE IT OFF.

IT'S GOT THREE IN THE BACKYARD.

WHAT SHOULD HE DO?

SHOULD THIS BE A WORRY?

>>SURE.

SO I BELIEVE THESE ARE PINE BARK ADELGID.

AND SO THEY'RE CLOSELY RELATED TO, OTHER SUCKING INSECTS LIKE APHIDS AND SCALES AND USUALLY WITH MATURE TREES, THERE'S NOT REALLY ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

THEY BOUNCE BACK.

FINE.

BUT SINCE THESE ARE KIND OF NEWER PLANTED TREES, WE DO RECOMMEND TREATMENT.

SO YOU CAN USE A HORTICULTURAL OIL IN THE WINTER.

BEFORE THE NEW GROWTH APPEARS.

INSECTICIDAL SOAP ALSO WORKS WELL.

AND THEN A THIRD OPTION WOULD BE TO DO A SYSTEMIC INSECTICIDE ON THE TREES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, KATE.

IN ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE, THEY HAD AN OVERPASS.

THIS IS BLAIR.

THEY HAD AN OVERPOPULATION OF GRASSHOPPERS LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR THEY'RE SEEING THE LITTLE ONES.

WHAT IN THE WORLD CAN THEY DO ABOUT IT?

>>YEAH.

SO, THE THING ABOUT GRASSHOPPERS IS, YES, THEY CAN CAUSE DAMAGE IN THE GARDEN, BUT THEY'RE PRIMARILY FEEDING ON TALL GRASS AND WEEDS.

AND SO IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IF YOU'RE ABLE TO MOW, YOU KNOW, KEEP THAT GRASS SHORT, KEEP THINGS WEEDED.

OTHERWISE THERE'S ORGANIC OPTIONS LIKE NEEM OR BIOLOGICAL BAITS FOR GRASSHOPPERS.

AND THERE'S ALSO PYRETHROIDS THAT YOU CAN USE TO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT WE WANT TO TARGET THOSE TALL GRASS AREAS INSTEAD OF THE GARDEN ITSELF.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KATE.

LET'S SEE.

JEFF, TWO PICTURES ON THIS.

FIRST ONE, THIS COMES TO US FROM LE MARS IOWA.

HE'S SAYING IS THIS NUTSEDGE?

IF NOT, WHAT?

AND WHAT DOES HE DO ABOUT IT?

>>YEAH, IT LOOKS LIKE YELLOW NUTSEDGE TO ME.

SO I THINK AT THIS STAGE, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE THINGS.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, KEEP AN AREA MOWED.

WE DON'T WANT THE NUTSEDGE TO GO TO SEED, DEVELOP ANY MORE SEED, YOU CAN PULL IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL DEVELOP, IT'S NOT GOING TO KILL IT THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DEVELOP, BUT THAT'LL, SLOW THINGS DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

AND THEN THERE ARE SOME NUTSEDGE HERBICIDES OUT THERE NOW THAT, ARE READILY AVAILABLE.

THEY WEREN'T IN THE PAST, BUT THEY ARE NOW.

SO YOU COULD LOOK IN THERE'S A VARIETY OF MIXES OUT THERE YOU COULD GET.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

JEFF, WE HAVE THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM UNDERWOOD, IOWA.

HE IS WONDERING WHAT THIS IS IN HIS YARD.

>>YOU KNOW, IT LOOKS LIKE GIANT FOXTAIL TO ME.

SO, I THINK AT THIS STAGE, AGAIN, WE DON'T WANT TO.

IT'S TRYING TO FLOWER THERE.

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE KEEP THAT UNDER CONTROL.

THAT'S ANOTHER ONE YOU CAN PULL.

OR, AND I WOULD LOOK AT DOING A FALL PRE-EMERGENT.

AND IF YOU HAVE A REAL PROBLEM WITH THAT, YOU COULD USE A PRODUCT WITH, QUINCLORAC IN IT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICS ON THE NEXT ONE.

WE HAD THIS LAST WEEK, BUT WE'RE GETTING IT FROM OTHER PEOPLE.

NOW, HOW CAN YOU ELIMINATE MOCK STRAWBERRY FROM VINCA AND FROM TURF?

>>WELL, FROM TURF, IT'S RELATIVELY SIMPLE.

THE AGAIN, YOUR THREE-WAY HERBICIDES OR SOMETHING WITH TRICLOPYR IN IT COULD WE'LL TAKE CARE OF IT PRETTY EASILY.

AND IN TURF WITH VINCA, I THINK TERRI EVEN SUGGESTED KIND OF USING THE CLOVER DEATH AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO THAT THOSE WOULD BE YOUR CHOICES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANKS, JEFF.

THREE PICTURES ON THIS ONE FOR YOU.

KYLE, THIS IS A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THIS ROSE IS LOOKING VERY STRANGE.

ONE HALF IS DWARFED.

LAST YEAR, IT WAS DEEP, DEEP PINKY APRICOT.

THIS YEAR IT'S WHITE.

SHE DID SEND MORE PICTURES AT OUR REQUEST OF THE BASE AND SOME OF THE BRANCHES THAT LOOK COMPROMISED.

>>YEAH, I NOT ENTIRELY SURE.

THERE'S I MEAN, IT'S CERTAINLY SOME INSECTS FEEDING SOME A FEW THINGS GOING ON.

I WONDER IF YOU MAY NOT HAVE FROZE MOSAIC VIRUS ON YOUR, ESPECIALLY THE THAT THE EFFECT THE STUNTED ROSE HAS THAT THAT ON THE VEIN CLEARING WHICH CAN BE ONE OF THE SYMPTOMS FORTUNATELY ROSE MOSAIC VIRUS.

LIKE MOST OF OUR VIRUSES, THERE'S REALLY NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT ASIDE FROM REMOVAL OF THE PLANT.

SO THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION.

>>ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS AN OMAHA VIEWER.

SHE HAS A THREE YEAR OLD SERVICEBERRY NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE HOUSE.

LEAVES HAVE SPOTS AND LOOKS SICK.

AND WHAT SHOULD THEY DO?

AND I THINK WE HAVE A PICTURE OF THE LEAF FOR THE NEXT ONE.

>>YEAH.

I MEAN, THE NICE THING IS, IS THERE'S NOT A TON OF LEAVES THAT ARE SHOWING, SHOWING THESE SYMPTOMS.

SO I THINK THAT THIS IS APPLE SCAB.

AND SO SERVICEBERRY IS IN THAT SAME ROSACEA FAMILY.

SO IT CAN GET CAN GET APPLE SCAB.

IT A FUNGUS CAUSED BY VENTURI INAEQUALIS.

BUT BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF INJURY HERE, I WOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT ANY SORT OF CONTROL.

IF YOU DID WANT TO DO A CONTROL, A PRODUCT THAT, THE CONTAINED CHLOROPHYLL OR APPRILON CONAZIL, ALL WOULD BE PRETTY EFFECTIVE.

>>ALL RIGHT, KYLE, AND TWO MORE.

THIS IS A CAMPBELL, NEBRASKA VIEWER.

WILTED TOMATOES.

HE'S WONDERING IF THIS IS FROM ACIDIC SOIL.

HE PUT WOOD ASH IS ON THE SOIL.

>>IT IS NOT FROM ACIDIC SOIL.

I DON'T THINK THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE PRETTY CLASSIC GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE INJURY.

SINCE THOSE THE THE SYNTHETIC TOXINS VERY COMMON IN THE LANDSCAPE, VERY COMMON JUST EVERYWHERE.

AND, THE WAY THAT THOSE, THE VEINS ARE JUST STRETCHED AND KIND OF THE, THE DISTORTION JUST LOOKS VERY HERBICIDE TO ME.

SO I WOULD, YOU KNOW, IF THERE ARE ANY FLOWERS ON THERE, WE DON'T WANT TO EAT ANY OF THE FRUIT.

THAT WAS THERE WHEN THE, WHEN IT GOT DRIFTED.

IF IT DOES PRODUCE FRUIT LATER ON THOUGH, THAT FRUIT IS SAFE TO EAT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THREE PICTURES SCOTT ON THIS FIRST ONE, THIS IS A SEWARD VIEWER.

THEY HAVE A PEAR.

THEY WONDER IF IT'S EDIBLE.

THEY'VE IT PRODUCES FRUIT, BUT THE PEARS DON'T GET VERY BIG.

BUT THEY DO TURN COLOR.

IS IT AN EDIBLE PEAR?

>>THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

NOT FOR SURE.

WHAT, CULTIVAR OF THE PEAR THIS MIGHT BE.

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S IN A VERY AWKWARD PLACE IN THE LANDSCAPE, RIGHT NEXT TO A SHED, AND THEN RIGHT NEXT TO BUNCH OF SHADE.

IT JUST MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT OF STRUGGLING RIGHT THERE, BUT IT COULD BE EDIBLE IF THEY DO CHANGE, YOU CAN ALWAYS NIBBLE ON THEM, FIND OUT IF YOU LIKE THEM OR NOT.

BUT YOU MIGHT JUST LOOK AT THAT SPACE.

IT MIGHT.

IT'S JUST A REALLY AWKWARD PLACE FOR THAT TREE TO BE.

>>ALL RIGHT, THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

ALSO, SCOTT, THIS COMES TO US FROM OGALLALA.

THIS IS ALSO A PEAR.

THIS IS A SEVEN YEAR OLD CHANTICLEER, WHICH IS, OF COURSE THE THE NON EDIBLE, SLOW TO LEAF OUT AND HAS TURNED PALE.

AND THEN THEY DID SEND MORE PICTURES OF WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TRUNK.

AND THE CONNECTIONS >>WERE YET.

IT'S THERE'S A LOT GOING ON WE HAVE GRASS GROWING RIGHT UP TO THE BASE OF THE TREE, WHICH WE DON'T RECOMMEND.

IT'S HALF THE TREE IS UNDER GROUND AND WE CAN'T SEE IT, SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON DOWN THERE.

BUT THIS IS A CULTIVAR AT THE CALLERY PEAR.

THIS MIGHT BE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE OUT OR REPLACE WITH SOMETHING NOT INVASIVE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS ONE A BIT BEFORE FROM THIS VIEWER.

THIS IS FOSTER IN NEBRASKA.

BLACK HILLS SPRUCE.

THE BIG ONES ALL OF A SUDDEN ARE LOOKING LIKE I THINK THE NEXT PICTURE AND GETTING WORSE AND WORSE.

WHAT WE THINK HERE.

>>IT LOOKS LIKE ENVIRONMENTAL INJURY IF THAT THE DROUGHT MAYBE POOR SOIL LIKE, BLACK HILLS SPRUCES.

EXCELLENT TREE.

BUT THAT SPACE MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST PLACE FOR IT.

YOU COULD TRY AND MAINTAIN THE SOIL WITH THE SCOOP AND DUMP TECHNIQUE.

BUT UNFORTUNATELY, YOU WILL HAVE TO START OVER.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

SCOTT.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK NOW.

COMING UP, WE HAVE THE PLANTS OF THE WEEK AND THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

THERE'S MUCH MORE BACKYARD FARMER RIGHT AFTER THIS.

[Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] [Up-lifting Music] >>WELCOME BACK TO BACKYARD FARMER.

COMING UP LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL SEE SOME MORE EXAMPLES OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE IN OUR GARDEN.

REMEMBER, NO PHONE CALLS TONIGHT, BUT YOU CAN STILL SEND US THOSE PICTURES AND EMAILS TO BYF@UNL.EDU FOR A FUTURE SHOW.

RIGHT NOW, OF COURSE IT IS TIME FOR THE LIGHTNING ROUND.

ALL RIGHT SCOTT, READY?

>>YES.

NO, NO.

YES >>AND NO PASS RIGHT.

ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTED GOLDEN BEETS IN THEIR GARDEN, BUT THEY DIDN'T GET VERY GOOD GERMINATE.

AND THEY'RE WONDERING, COULD THAT BE A FALL CROP?

>>YOU COULD TRY, BEETS IN THE FALL.

SO.

YES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP TO ONE OF KYLE'S QUESTIONS, WHICH WAS OUR WOOD ASH.

ASH IS GOOD IN THE GARDEN.

>>KNOW WHO THEY ARE OR NOT.

>>OKAY.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO NEEDS TO MOVE THEIR GARDEN LOCATION, AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD KILL OR JUST TILL.

IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TURF.

>>YOU CAN, DON'T TILL.

THAT'S GOING TO BRING UP A LOT OF WEED SEED.

JUST COVER IT WITH MULCH, AND THAT SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAD SUNPATIENS IN A POT.

THEY FLOWERED WHEN THEY WERE PURCHASED.

THEY HAVEN'T FLOWERED AGAIN.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO DO ABOUT THAT?

>>YOU MIGHT TRY A BALLOON BOOSTER OR A SLOW RELEASE FERTILIZER.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THIS VIEWER WONDERS, CAN THEY PRUNE THOSE OLD PINK FLOWERING SPIRAEA NOW?

WILL THAT HURT THEM.

>>THEY SURE COULD.

>>ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANY WAY TO PUT VEGETABLES AND FRUITS IN THE COMPOST WITHOUT CRITTERS GETTING THEM?

>>GOOD LUCK.

>>OKAY.

NICE JOB.

YOU READY?

KYLE?

>>I WAS BORN READY >>OR NOT.

ALL RIGHT.

>>WE'LL DO IT REGARDLESS.

RIGHT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A FOLLOW UP.

THIS FIRST ONE TO YOUR SAMPLE.

>>OKAY.

>>WHICH IS IF A PERSON HAS THOSE HYDRANGEAS AND THEY HAVE THOSE LEAF SPOTS BECAUSE WE GET THIS QUESTION EVERY YEAR, WILL THEY GET IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR?

>>MOST LIKELY YES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

IS THERE ANYTHING TO BE DONE ABOUT IT.

SO THEY DON'T A PREVENTATIVE.

>>SANITATION.

SO WE TRY TO REMOVE THE INFECTED FOLIAGE AS BEST YOU CAN.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO SAYS THEY HAVE A SWEET GUM THAT TURNED FROM YELLOW TO BROWN, AND HE THINKS IT WAS A ROOT ROT.

WILL THAT TREE GROW OUT OF IT?

>>IT'S POSSIBLE IT WILL.

OR IT MIGHT NOT.

IT JUST DEPENDS ON THE SEVERITY OF THE ROOT ROT AND WHAT THE ROT IS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE AN OMAHA VIEWER WHO SAYS SHROOMS ARE POPPING UP AFTER THE RAIN, AND THEY WANT TO PUT ON A FUNGICIDE TO PROTECT THEIR GRASS.

>>NOT GOING TO WORK.

>>ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A VIEWER WITH A SUGAR MAPLE AND SAP IS RUNNING OUT OF THE MAPLE.

THEY'RE WONDERING, IS THAT THE SAME ISSUE AS WET WOOD IN ELMS?

>>NO, IT'S NOT.

IT'S A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT THING.

BUT MAPLES CAN HAVE WET WOOD AS WELL.

>>ALL RIGHT, WE HAD OAK TATERS ON THE PREVIOUS SHOW.

THIS VIEWER WANTS TO KNOW HOW IT SPREAD.

>>IT SPREADS THE WAY THAT EVERY, IT'S AN ENVIRONMENTAL THING.

AND SO IT'S NOT A SPECIFIC FUNGUS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S JUST A WEIRD THING THAT THE TREES DO.

SO IT SPREADS MAGICALLY.

>>OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

YEAH.

>>THAT WAS HER.

>>GOOD.

>>I FORGOT THE POINT FOR YOU.

>>YOU HAD TO PLAY MAGIC.

>> OKAY.

>>REMEMBER THAT >>MAGIC THAT'S A NEW ONE?

ALL RIGHT.

ARE YOU READY, JEFF?

FOR SOME MAGIC?

>>LET'S GO.

>>ABRACADABRA >>THIS IS A VIEWER WHO HAS A BUFFALO GRASS LAWN.

AND THEY ARE WONDERING, ARE THERE BUFFALO GRASS SAFE WEED KILLERS?

>>YES THERE ARE.

YOU NEED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH.

BUT ALSO, THERE'S KIND OF THE SAME RESTRICTIONS, TEMPERATURE, THE SORT OF THING TO BE CONCERNED WITH.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER VIEWER WHO HAS BUFFALO GRASS, AND IT IS TILLING ITS WAY DOWN THE CURB.

HE WANTS TO KNOW, CAN THOSE BE CUT OFF AND THEN PINNED AND.

>>YEAH, RIGHT.

YOU COULD KIND OF USE THOSE AS, AS PLUGS IN A WAY.

SO WE'VE DONE THAT.

>>OKAY.

THIS VIEWER HAS USED A COMBINATION OF VINEGAR DISH SOAP AND SALT ON THEIR WEEDS.

ANY THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>>IF YOU'RE USING IT, MAYBE IN YOUR DRIVEWAY, THAT'S FINE, BUT I WOULDN'T USE THAT ON YOUR LAWN OR AROUND YOUR LANDSCAPE.

>>ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE ANOTHER VIEWER WHO IS GETTING READY TO SEED.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHETHER THEY SHOULD AERATE BEFORE SEEDING OR NOT.

IN THE FALL.

>>YES, ABSOLUTELY.

RIGHT BEFORE SEEDING.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A GRETNA VIEWER WHO WONDERS WHAT KIND OF GLOVES DO YOU USE FOR THE GLOVE OF DEATH.

>>NITRILE GLOVES.

SO SOMETIMES YOU GET LIKE A TEN INCH ONE THAT GOES UP YOUR FOREARMS A LITTLE BIT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

>>I WOULD HAVE SAID A MAGIC GLOVE.

>>I KNOW I HAD MY MOMENT AND I LOST IT RIGHT THERE.

>>KATE, ARE YOU READY?

>>YEAH.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS A VIEWER WHO, SAW WHAT JODI BROUGHT FOR SAMPLE LAST WEEK AND WANTS TO KNOW WHERE YOU CAN BUY THOSE INSECT REPELLENT SOCKS.

>>YOU CAN GO ONLINE, OR THEY WILL SELL SPRAYS THAT YOU CAN SPRAY ON YOUR CLOTHING AS WELL, IN MOST STORES.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WHAT INSECTS BESIDES JAPANESE BEETLES WOULD BE SHREDDING GRAPE LEAVES RIGHT NOW?

>>GOOD QUESTION.

IT COULD BE JAPANESE BEETLES OR OTHER BEETLES THAT WILL FEED ON GRAPE, TOO.

BUT IT'S HARD TELLING WITHOUT LOOKING AT FOR THE INSECT.

>>ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE A LEIGH NEBRASKA VIEWER WHO THINKS ASIAN LADY BEETLES ARE EATING HIS APPLES.

>>NO, THEY ARE PREDATORY, SO THEY DON'T FEED ON PLANT.

>>ALL RIGHT, THE SAME LEIGH VIEWER.

USE NEEM OIL ON THOSE APPLES.

GOOD IDEA.

>>IT DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO CONTROL FOR, AS LONG AS YOU'RE FOLLOWING THE LABEL AND MAKING SURE THAT IT CAN BE APPLIED TO APPLES, IT SHOULD BE OKAY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE A VIEWER WHO HAS HAD TOMATO HORNED WORMS IN THE PAST AND IS WONDERING WHEN YOU SHOULD START WATCHING FOR THEM.

>>NOW'S A GOOD TIME.

BUT, THEY'RE GOING TO BE SMALL, SO JUST KEEP GOING ON AND HANDPICK AS MANY AS YOU CAN.

>>ALL RIGHT.

NICE JOB.

ALL.

AND I DIDN'T SEE WHO WON.

>>IT WAS A TIE.

>>I SAW IT AGAIN.

WELL, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START CHEATING FOR THE OTHER END OF THE TABLE.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, WE ARE SO THRILLED WITH HOW OUR GARDEN IS STARTING TO FILL OUT, AND WE HAVE ALREADY HARVESTED A LOT OF PRODUCE.

TERRI SAYS IT'S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT MIGHT BE GOOD FOR A FALL GARDEN.

ON THIS WEEK'S BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN UPDATE.

>>THIS WEEK IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN, WE ARE BASICALLY HITTING MID-SEASON.

WE'RE NOW AT THE 1ST OF JULY.

OUR GARDEN IS LOOKING FANTASTIC.

EVERYTHING IS GROWING IN, SO NOW IT'S KIND OF TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT DIDN'T DO WELL, AND PULLING OUT SOME OF THOSE KIND OF SHORTER SUMMER SEASON PLANTS, LIKE SOME OF THE GREEN BEANS OR SOME OF THE ZUCCHINIS THAT YOU MAY BE GETTING DISEASES ON OR INSECTS ON, OR SOME OF THOSE OTHER KIND OF PESTIES.

THAT JUST AREN'T MAKING YOUR PLANTS VERY HARDY.

SO DON'T FEEL BAD.

GO AHEAD, REMOVE SOME OF THOSE.

MAKE SURE YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE SEED PACKET.

THOSE 50 TO 60, DAY LONG PLANTS ARE IDEAL FOR GETTING IN THE GARDEN RIGHT NOW.

THEY'LL STILL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THEM UP AND GROWING AND GETTING SOME GREAT PRODUCTION OUT OF THEM.

WE HERE IN THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDENER DOING THAT.

WE'VE GOTTEN RID OF SOME OF OUR KOHLRABI.

SO SOME GREEN BEANS AND STUFF ARE GOING IN WITH THAT.

ALSO DON'T FORGET THE RAIN WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT OFF.

SO MAKE SURE YOU'RE KEEPING YOUR MULCH WELL.

AND IF YOU DON'T PLAN ON PLANTING ANYTHING, THINK ABOUT JUST PUTTING IN SOME COVER CROP TO PROTECT THAT SOIL IN THE GARDEN.

SO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER GARDEN THIS WEEK AND.

CHECK IT OUT.

>>WELL, AS TERRI SAID, YOU DO HAVE TIME TO GET THE HARVESTED STUFF AND THE PLANT WASTE INTO THAT COMPOST BIN TO MAKE WAY FOR YOUR FALL GARDEN.

BUT WE'RE GOING TO TALK PLANTS OF THE WEEK, SCOTT.

AND IT'S SORT OF AN UNUSUAL COMBINATION.

>>IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

BUT WE HAVE UP HERE THIS FIRST ONE, THIS IS A ROSE OF SHARON, A WHITE CULTIVAR.

NOT FOR SURE IF WE KNOW WHICH ONE IT MIGHT BE.

THEY'RE REALLY NICE, SHRUB, BUT, THEY DO WELL HERE.

THEY DO HAVE A LOT OF GREAT, FEATURES.

IF THEY'RE RIGHT NEXT TO IT IS A DRIED SEED HEAD OF A GIANT ALLIUM.

A LOT OF TIMES WE DON'T THINK ABOUT USING THIS IN ARRANGEMENT.

YOU CAN USE SOME OF THOSE, DIFFERENT TYPES OF SPRAYS TO HELP, KEEP IT WELL PRESERVED, BUT, IT'S A REALLY FUN COMBINATION.

IT'S AMAZING WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH SOME OF THOSE DIFFERENT FLOWER HEADS ONCE THEY'RE DONE.

>>WELL AND THEY ACTUALLY DRY REALLY WELL AND SOONER OR LATER THE, ONION STINK GOES OUT OF THEM SO YOU CAN KEEP THEM IN YOUR HOUSE.

SO FUN COMBINATION.

AND OF COURSE, WE HAVE ANNOUNCEMENTS OF FUN THINGS IN THE GARDENING WORLD.

FIRST ONE IS THE MONUMENT VALLEY IRIS SOCIETY IRIS SALE SATURDAY, JULY 19TH, 9 TO 1.

AND IT'S AT THE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION CENTER.

SO THAT'S A FUN THING FOR PEOPLE WHO LIKE THE IRIS.

IT IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO BUY THEM AND PLANT THEM.

AND THEN WE HAVE THE NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM GARDEN WALKS.

THERE IS ONE IN LINCOLN ON JULY 8TH.

THERE IS ONE IN OMAHA ON JULY 15TH, 5 P.M. TO 8 P.M. AND, YOU'LL NEED TO GO TO NEBRASKA STATEWIDE ARBORETUM PLANTNEBRASKA.ORG TO FIGURE OUT EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT THAT, BUT I KNOW THEY HAVE SOME FUN GARDENS ON THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

PICTURES.

THIS YOUR FIRST ONE?

KATE, THIS IS REALLY FUN.

IT COMES TO US FROM CHIPITA PARK, COLORADO, WONDERS IS THIS A MOTH OR A LANTERNFLY?

>>WELL, GOOD NEWS, IT IS A MOTH.

THIS IS THE BEAUTIFUL GIANT LEOPARD MOTH.

AND ACTUALLY THE SECOND PICTURE ONE IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.

IT'S MANY SPOTTED TIGER MOTH, BUT THEY LOOK REALLY SIMILAR.

AND THE GIANT LEOPARD MOTH OR CATERPILLARS ARE ACTUALLY THOSE WOOLY BEAR CATERPILLARS THAT WE SEE WANDERING AROUND.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE REALLY FUZZY AND BLACK AND BROWN.

>>I WONDER HOW PEOPLE FIGURED OUT WHICH ONE WAS THE LEOPARD AND WHICH ONE WAS THE TIGER.

THAT'S FUN, BECAUSE THE OTHER ONE ACTUALLY CAME TO US, FROM NEBRASKA.

>>YEAH.

>>SO ONE FROM COLORADO AND FROM TEKAMAH.

THEN WE HAVE THIS ONE, WHICH IS, A MOTH SHE FOUND IN THE BACKYARD.

WHAT IS THIS?

>>I KID YOU NOT, THE NAME IS THE BROWN SHADED GRAY MOTH.

PRETTY ORIGINAL, BUT THIS IS A TYPE OF, GEOMETRIC MOTH.

AND SO THE CATERPILLARS ARE THIS ONE ARE THE INCHWORM CATERPILLARS WE SEE.

SO THEY HAVE THE LEGS IN THE FRONT AND THE LEGS AT THE VERY BACK.

AND THEY JUST INCH ALONG.

>>WELL, THAT'S FUN TOO.

AND THEN YOU HAVE, TWO PICTURES FROM A VIEWER WEST OF KEARNEY, AND THEY HAVE DIFFERENT 2 OR 3 DIFFERENT INSECTS.

SO THESE THIS LAST SET OF PICTURES IS FROM THEM.

AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THESE INSECTS ARE.

>>SURE.

THIS FIRST ONE IS THE LARGE MILKWEED BUG.

AND SO IT'S ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE SPECIALISTS ON MILKWEED.

JUST LIKE WE SEE THE MONARCH CATERPILLARS EXCLUSIVELY FEEDING ON THEM.

AND YES, THEY DO FEED ON THE PLANT, BUT THEY DON'T CAUSE DAMAGE TO IT.

>>AND I THINK YOUR SECOND PICTURE SHOWS A DIFFERENT GUY.

>>YEAH.

SO THIS IS A CLAY COLORED LEAF BEETLE.

AND THEY'RE ALSO SOMETIMES CALLED A PERSIMMON BEETLE.

BUT THEY'LL ALSO FEED ON OTHER PLANTS LIKE WILLOW AND RAGWEED AND A COUPLE MORE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO OKAY.

KIND OF.

>>YEAH.

OKAY.

AS LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE PERSIMMONS AND YOU DON'T SEE DAMAGE, I THINK YOU'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

>>OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM WESTERN OTOE COUNTY, FOUND THIS CATERPILLAR.

AND THIS WAS CHARRED ON THE UNDERSIDE OF A LEAF.

HE'S SAYING ABOUT HALF AN INCH LONG AND A COATING HAS ENCASED THIS.

>>YEAH.

SO THERE'S A COUPLE POSSIBILITIES FOR THIS, BUT IT IS A MOTH PUPA OR COCOON.

SO IT COULD BE A CABBAGE LOOPER.

IT COULD BE A DIAMONDBACK MOTH.

IF YOU'RE NOT SEEING ANY DAMAGE ON YOUR SWISS CHARD, THAT'S GREAT.

IF YOU DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THESE CATERPILLARS, NOW'S A GREAT TIME TO JUST HANDPICK THEM OFF, FEED THEM TO THE BIRDS, THROW THEM IN SOAPY WATER.

OTHERWISE, WHEN FALL TIME COMES AROUND, THAT GARDEN CLEANUP IS GOING TO BE REALLY IMPORTANT TO PREVENT THEM NEXT YEAR.

>>GREAT.

THANKS, KATE.

ALL RIGHT, JEFF.

TWO PICTURES ON THE FIRST ONE.

>>OKAY.

SHE'S A LINCOLN VIEWER.

SHE SAYS, CAN YOU I.D.

THIS?

AND HOW DO YOU GET RID OF IT?

>>YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT IT.

THEY LOOK LIKE VIOLETS TO ME.

AND SO AGAIN, MULTI HERBICIDE WITH, TRICLOPYR SHOULD HANDLE IT.

AND AGAIN WE WANT TO KIND OF WAIT UNTIL THINGS COOL OFF A BIT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS CENTRAL LINCOLN.

WONDERING WHAT THESE TWO PLANTS WEEDS ARE.

THEY COME BACK EVERY YEAR AROUND THIS TIME AND SPREAD.

AND IS THERE ANYTHING SHE CAN DO TO KEEP THEM FROM GROWING AND KEEP THEM FROM SPREADING?

>>WELL, TO KEEP THEM FROM GROWING?

SO WE HAVE, PROSTRATE SPURGE AND PURSLANE AND, A HOE.

A GARDEN HOE WOULD BE THE EASIEST WAY TO KEEP THEM FROM GROWING.

THAT'S WHAT THEY WOULD DO WITH THESE, AND IF IT'S A PROBLEM AREA AND IF IT'S A PLACE THAT SHE COULD USE A PRE-EMERGENT, THEN, YOU KNOW, I WOULD PRIMROSES IN THE FALL AND IN THE SPRING.

AND AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS, SHE SHOULD HAVE IT HANDLED.

>>AND IF SHE'S HUNGRY, SHE CAN EAT THAT PURSLANE.

>>SHE COULD.

RIGHT.

YEAH.

UNLESS YOU'VE BEEN SPRAYING IN THE GARDEN, IN THE YARD AND THEN YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

SO.

>>ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS ALSO A LINCOLN VIEWER.

THIS PLANT POPPED UP AFTER THE LAST RAIN.

IT'S REALLY TAKEN OFF.

WHAT IS.

THIS?

>>YOU KNOW, IT LOOKED KIND OF LIKE NETTLES TO ME.

LIKE SOME SORT OF NETTLES LOOKING AT.

ALTHOUGH THE FLOWER.

IS IT REALLY NETTLE LIKE?

SO, AGAIN, TO ME, THE EASIEST THING IS JUST TO PULL IT.

IT'S NOT.

ANYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO WANT IS PRODUCING A TON OF SEED.

I MEAN, THOSE ARE VERY THOSE FLOWERS ARE GOING TO PRODUCE A LOT OF SEEDS.

SO JUST REACH DOWN AND GRAB IT AND GET IT.

>>GET IT OUT OF THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

AND TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS WEED WAS IN, HER MOTHER'S LAWN.

WHAT IS THIS ONE?

>>AND AGAIN, WE HAVE VIOLETS HERE AGAIN.

SO SAME SORT OF THING USING, TRICLOPYR EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

>>ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S SEE.

WE HAVE FOR YOU KYLE.

ONE PICTURE ON THE VERY FIRST ONE.

THIS IS FROM, TWO PICS ON THE VERY FIRST ONE.

SO WE HAVE, TWO THAT KIND OF LOOK PRETTY SIMILAR.

THIS IS AN ORIENPET LILY GROWING IN THE GARDEN FOR MANY YEARS NOW.

IT'S STARTING TO DO THIS, AND THE TINY BUDS NEVER BLOOM.

WHAT IS THIS?

>>YEAH, SO I DIDN'T KNOW THAT THERE WERE LILY AND TRUMP.

TRUMPET FLOWER CROSSES.

PRETTY COOL.

BUT THIS IS FASCINATION.

IT'S PRETTY FASCINATING, ISN'T IT?

SO IT'S.

YEAH.

FASCINATION.

NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

YOU KNOW, IT PROBABLY WON'T COME BACK NEXT YEAR, SO CONSIDER YOURSELF LUCKY.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE HAVE, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE SENT THIS ONE WAY EARLY IN THE SPRING.

SHE SAID THE VERY SAME PLANT OF ASPARAGUS HAS DONE THIS AGAIN.

WHAT IS IT?

>>YEP.

AND IT'S THE EXACT SAME THING.

AND SO THAT'S FASCINATION AGAIN.

LIKELY CAUSED BY THE EXTREME TEMPERATURE SWINGS THAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING.

BUT SOME SORT OF DAMAGE TO THE GROWING POINT CAUSED IT TO JUST KIND OF GROW FLAT LIKE THAT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM FREMONT.

LILY'S CURLING, WHICH WE HAD LAST WEEK FOR SCOTT.

AND PART OF THE LEAVES ON THE STEM OF DIED, SECOND YEAR, NO ISSUES LAST SEASON.

SO WHAT DO WE THINK HERE?

>>I WOULD BE VERY CURIOUS IF THERE IS A GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE APPLIED TO THE MULCH AREA RIGHT AROUND THERE.

THAT'S KIND OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO ME.

>>ALL RIGHT.

IN THREE PICS ON THE NEXT ONE, THIS IS, DAYLILIES WITH GOOD EARLY GROWTH.

AND NOW THEY'RE DOING THIS.

>>YEAH.

THIS IS STRANGE.

COULD BE A GROWTH REGULATOR HERBICIDE.

I WOULD BE CURIOUS.

WHAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT FENCE?

ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A GALL MIDGE THAT CAN FORM SOME DAMAGE THERE, BUT REALISTICALLY, WOULD PROBABLY NEED TO SUBMIT A SAMPLE IN ORDER TO REALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU KYLE.

ONE PICTURE, SCOTT, FOR YOU ON THIS VERY FIRST ONE.

THIS IS LINCOLN.

SHE SAYS HER CLEMATIS FLOWERS HAVE WHITE EDGES.

IS THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT, OR IS THIS JUST BEAUTIFUL?

>>IT'S JUST BEAUTIFUL.

THE PLANT'S DOING WHAT IT WANTS TO DO.

THOSE FLOWERS COULD BE ON THEIR WAY OUT.

BUT IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

>>ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

SCOTT.

OMAHA.

SHE HAD A BALLOON PLANT BLOOMED.

WELL, SELF SEEDED.

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE.

SHE MOVED THE CHILD TO A NEW LOCATION.

IT'S 45 INCHES TALL, BUT IT HAS NEVER FLOWERED.

ANY IDEAS?

>>BALLOON FLOWERS, LIKE, GET 4 TO 6 HOURS OF, DIRECT, UNINTERRUPTED SUNLIGHT.

IF THAT'S THE CASE, YOU COULD TRY TO, MAYBE TAKE A TROWEL AND JUST GENTLY WORK IT SIX INCHES AWAY FROM IT AND SEE IF WE CAN MAYBE STRESS THE PLANT OUT TO ENCOURAGE IT TO BLOOM.

>>ALL RIGHT.

FUN.

ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

SHE'S WONDERING.

SHE SHOULD SHE CUT BACK SOME OF THE LEAVES ON THIS PARTICULAR SQUASH OR JUST LEAVE THEM?

>>LEAVE THEM, BUT DEFINITELY BE LOOKING FOR THE SQUASH FIND FOR EGGS AND THE SQUASH BUG.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE MORE.

AND THIS IS A VIEWER WHO WANTS TO KNOW, ARE STRAWBERRIES SUPPOSED TO BE CUT BACK AFTER THE GROWING SEASON?

>>NO.

IT LOOKS THEY LOOK VERY HEALTHY.

IT MIGHT BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO EXPAND HER STRAWBERRY BED, BUT AND THIN IT OUT.

BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO CUT IT BACK.

>>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

THANKS, SCOTT.

WELL, TOMORROW IS THE 4TH OF JULY.

AND AS WE CELEBRATE OUR NATION'S BIRTHDAY, YOUR GARDEN COULD BE BURSTING WITH OUR COLORS.

LET'S TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO SEE SOME EXAMPLES OF OLD GLORY IN OUR GARDEN.

>>THE 4TH OF JULY SEEMS LIKE A REALLY GOOD TIME TO TALK ABOUT RED, WHITE AND BLUE FLOWERS IN THE GARDEN.

AND THAT'S NOT REALLY VERY EASY, ESPECIALLY FOR TRUE BLUE.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TRUE BLUE.

THEY GET PURPLE, THEY GET PALE BLUE, THEY GET SKY BLUE.

IT'S STILL BLUE.

AND RED CAN BE EITHER AN ORANGY RED, A WARM RED, OR IT CAN BE A COOL RED WHICH HAS A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BLUE IN IT.

OF COURSE, WHITE IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE.

THE GREAT THING ABOUT WHAT I HAVE IN MY HAND IS ALL OF THESE ARE PERENNIALS.

SO ROSES, RUSSIAN SAGE, LARKSPUR, WHICH ACTUALLY SEEDS ITSELF, ONE OF THE DAYLILIES THAT WE HAVE STOKESIA OR STOKESIA.

WE HAVE SEA HOLLY, THIS IS ACTUALLY IN THE MINT FAMILY, BUT IT IS NOT ONE THAT RUNS.

SO YOU CAN USE ALL SORTS OF PERENNIALS KNOWING THAT THE COMBINATION MIGHT LAST A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THE TEXTURES ARE GOING TO BE DIFFERENT.

OR OF COURSE YOU CAN GO TO ANNUALS AND THERE ARE MORE RED AND WHITE ANNUALS.

SOME OF THE BLUES, SOME OF THEM WILL BE SHADE ANNUALS, BUT COLOR IN THE SHADE IS TRICKY.

YOU KIND OF HAVE TO LOOK AT AND CHOOSE A LOT OF WHITE, AND THAT CAN BE VARIEGATED EDGES OF FOLIAGE LIKE HOSTAS.

AND THEN OF COURSE IMPATIENS WE HAVE SUN AND WE HAVE SHADE IMPATIENS.

THAT WILL GIVE YOU SOME RED.

SO THINK RED, WHITE AND BLUE FOR THAT HOT FIRECRACKER SUMMER DAY.

>>SO OBVIOUSLY COLOR IS ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY ENJOY ABOUT GARDENING.

AND MAYBE YOU SAW A FEW THINGS THERE THAT YOU'D LIKE TO TRY.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF RED, WHITE AND BLUE THIS YEAR.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST ROUND OF PICS.

KATE, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE, AND SHE NOTICED THIS LITTLE GUY ON A PLANT.

IS THIS A JAPANESE BEETLE?

>>IT'S NOT.

MY SON AND I FOUND ONE YESTERDAY.

THIS IS THE DOG BANE BEETLE.

THEY FEED EXCLUSIVELY ON DOG BANE, BUT THEY'RE JUST THIS BEAUTIFUL METALLIC.

GREEN AND BLUE COLOR AND REALLY FUN TO LOOK AT.

>>ALL RIGHT, TWO PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS INSECT SHOWED UP IN MASSACHUSETTS.

WHAT IS IT?

>>THIS IS THE EASTERN EYED CLICK BEETLE.

SO THEY HAVE THOSE BIG EYES?

WELL, THEY LOOK LIKE BIG EYES ON THE BACK TO WARD OFF PREDATORS.

WE ALSO HAVE A NICE CLICK, BUT VERY COOL FIND.

>>ALL RIGHT, ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

KATE, THIS COMES TO US FROM RAVENNA.

WHAT'S THIS LITTLE MUD HUT?

>>YEAH.

IT'S SO CUTE.

SO THIS IS A POTTER WASP NEST.

SO POTTER WASPS ARE A SOLITARY SPECIES OF WASPS, THOUGH THEY DON'T GET AGGRESSIVE LIKE WE WOULD SEE WITH SOCIAL WASPS.

YELLOW JACKETS, PAPER WASP, THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT THEY'LL ACTUALLY STUFF THAT LITTLE POT FULL OF CATERPILLARS TO FEED ITS YOUNG.

SO I WOULD TAKE A GUESS THAT IF YOU BROKE IT OPEN, YOU'D SEE LIKE HALF A DOZEN CATERPILLARS IN THERE.

>>OH, FUN.

>>YEAH.

>>ALL RIGHT.

TWO PICTURES ON THIS ONE, JEFF.

THIS.

THESE WERE A LITTLE FUZZY.

SO THIS IS A BELLEVUE VIEWER.

SHE SAYS THE SPREADING WEED SHE HAS IN THE GARDEN, SHE JUST CAN'T GET RID OF THEM.

SHE DOESN'T REALLY CARE WHAT IT IS.

SHE JUST WANTS TO KNOW HOW SHE CAN GET RID OF IT.

>>YOU KNOW, FOR ME, SHORT TERM, I'M BACK WITH MY HOE UP THERE HOLDING THIS, AND THEN USING SOME PRE-EMERGENT.

SO SOMETHING LIKE A PREEN, SOMETHING FOR YOUR GARDEN AREA, BUT I WOULD STICK ON TOP, STICK WITH THAT, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE DOING THAT AT THE INTERVALS THAT THE LABEL SAYS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND IF SHE DOES WANT TO SEND US A LITTLE CLEARER PICTURES, WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY.

ALL RIGHT.

AND ONE PICTURE ON THE NEXT ONE.

JEFF, THIS PLANT POPPED UP AFTER THE LAST RAIN.

WE DID HAVE THIS ONE A LITTLE EARLIER.

WE THOUGHT IT WAS POLK WEED.

>>NO, IT'S, A SMART WEED.

SO, IF YOU LISTEN TO ALL YOUR AG CHEMICAL COMMERCIALS, YOU'LL SAY THEY'LL ERADICATE SMARTWEED.

THIS MIGHT BE ONE IS PALE SMARTWEED.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO KEEP THAT KIND OF INTERESTING.

AND IF IT WAS ME, I WOULD DEADHEAD IT LIKE I WOULD SOME OF MY OTHER PERENNIALS AND JUST MAKE SURE THAT, AGAIN, I'M SPREADING SEED, BUT KIND OF FUN.

>>ALL RIGHT.

ONE PICTURE FOR YOU, KYLE.

ON THIS FIRST ONE, 60 YEAR OLD LINDEN GOT A HOLE IN IT.

AND THEN SAW SHROOM.

COMING OUT OF THAT HOLE.

FUNGUS EMERGES.

NO PICTURES.

CAN OF TREE BE SAVED.

>>YEAH.

THERE'S NOT NECESSARILY ANYTHING MAJOR WRONG WITH THE TREE.

YOU KNOW, TREES DO HAVE HOLLOWS THAT ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF A, IMPORTANT PART OF THE ECOSYSTEM SINCE THERE IS A FUNGAL MUSHROOM GROWING OUT OF IT, I WOULD JUST KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

AND IF IT'S CONTINUING TO LEAF OUT AS IT SHOULD, LOSE LEAVES WHEN IT SHOULD NOT SHOW ANOTHER SIGNS OF DECLINE, IT'S PROBABLY JUST A LITTLE OF ANOTHER, PROBABLY NOT ANOTHER 60 YEARS, BUT SOME MORE YEARS.

>>ALL RIGHT.

AND THREE PICTURES ON THE NEXT ONE.

THIS IS A FLOWERING CRAB THAT HAS THIS THING ON IT.

TEXTURE IS LIKE A HOST, A SNOWBALL.

WHAT IS THIS?

SHOULD SHE TRY TO REMOVE IT OR JUST IGNORE IT?

>>WELL.

I WOULD NOT.

I WOULD DO NEITHER.

AND YOU SHOULDN'T EAT IT.

YEAH.

DON'T EAT IT.

LIKE YOU LIKE IT IS A HOST, A SNOWBALL.

THAT IS A SLIME MOLD.

FULIGO SEPTICA, ALSO KNOWN AS SCRAMBLED EGG SLIME MOLD, OR IT'S MORE COMMON NAME THE DOG VOMIT SLIME MOLD.

SO IT'S HERE BECAUSE IT'S WET.

ONCE IT DRIES UP, IT'S GOING TO FLY AWAY.

SO ENJOY IT WHILE IT'S HERE.

>>WELL, AND IT LOOKS LIKE PERHAPS THAT CRABAPPLE IS KIND OF AN OLD CRABAPPLE.

>>YES.

YEAH.

>>YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

SCOTT, YOU HAVE ONE PICTURE ON THIS.

FIRST ONE.

THIS COMES TO US FROM TARNOV NEBRASKA.

TOMATO PLANT HAS LEAVES THAT ARE TURNING BROWN.

I GAVE IT TO YOU BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE DISEASE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON HERE?

>>IT LOOKS STRESSED.

WE WANT TO TRY AND PROVE THAT OVERALL GROWING CONDITION FOR THE PLANT.

IF WE COULD PUT SOME, MAYBE UNTREATED, GRASS CLIPPINGS AROUND THE BASE AT THE PLANT, MAYBE EVEN SOME WOOD CHIP MULCH, TO HELP, WITH MOISTURE CONSERVATION, JUST IMPROVE THE GROWING CONDITION.

BUT IF YOU COULD ALSO SEND US MAYBE SOME CLEARER PICTURES OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, WE WOULD HAVE A BETTER IDEA WHAT COULD BE GOING ON, BUT TRY TO IMPROVE THE GROWING CONDITION FOR THE PLANT.

>>ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

YOU HAVE TWO PICTURES ON THIS LAST QUESTION.

THIS COMES TO US FROM LINCOLN.

THIS IS A BIRCH.

OBVIOUSLY A SINGLE STEM BIRCH.

FAIRLY NEW AND IS DROPPING SOME YELLOW LEAVES.

I THINK THAT'S OUR SECOND PICTURE HERE.

SHE'S WONDERING WHAT WE SHOULD DO ABOUT THAT.

IT JUST DOES NOT LOOK LIKE AN IRON CLOROSIS.

THIS LOOKS MORE LIKE THE MOISTURE.

WHEN PLANTS TEND TO HAVE BRIGHT YELLOW LEAVES, WE TEND TO, LEAN TOWARDS, TOO MUCH MOISTURE AND THAT GRASS LOOKS REALLY GREEN.

SO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT OVER WATERING WITH THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM, BECAUSE WE'VE HAD PLENTY OF MOISTURE.

SO MAYBE CHECK THAT MOISTURE BEFORE YOU WATER.

GET OUT THAT LONG SCREWDRIVER, CHECK THE SOIL MOISTURE.

ALSO, EXTEND THAT MOLD RIN SEE IF WE CAN IMPROVE THE OVERALL GROWING CONDITIONS.

GO OUT ANOTHER 18-24 INCHES THE PLANTS ARE GOING TO BE HAPPIER.

BUT, WATCH THE WATERING.

>>RIGHT.

WELL, AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD SUGGESTION.

AND OH, IT BIRCHES DEPENDING ON THE BIRCH LIKE THE WATER.

BUT THEY DON'T LIKE THAT MUCH WATER.

>>WE'VE GOT.

I THINK THIS WAS FROM LINCOLN AND, I THINK LINOLN GETS A FAIR AMOUNT OF WATER, TOO.

SO, JUST WATCH THAT IRRIGATION AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS.

>>RIGHT.

AND AGAIN, PEOPLE THINK, OKAY, THE LEAVES ARE THEY'RE YELLOW.

SO IT NEEDS MORE WATER.

THEY'RE YELLOW SO IT DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH WATER.

SO AGAIN THAT SCREWDRIVER AND.

>>YEAH IT'S A GREAT TOOL INEXPENSIVE IF YOU CAN GET THEM AT ANY HARDWARE STORE MAYBE.

>>EXACTLY.

AND THE LONGER THE BETTER DEPENDING.

YES.

>>YES.

AT LEAST 18 INCHES BECAUSE WE FORGET THAT, TREE ROOTS ARE AT THE TOP 18 INCHES OF THE PROFILE.

SO KEEP THAT IN MIND.

SO WE NEED PROBE.

THAT'S HOW DEEP YOU WANT TO TRY TO GO DOWN AND LOOK.

>>ALL RIGHT.

EXCELLENT.

WELL AND WITH THAT WE'LL WRAP IT UP FOR THIS WEEK'S BACKYARD FARMER.

THANKS TO EVERYBODY WHO SUBMITTED THOSE QUESTIONS THIS WEEK.

NEXT TIME ON BACKYARD FARMER WILL SURPRISE YOU WITH A SPECIAL GUEST ON OUR SHOW.

SOMEONE FAMILIAR IS COMING BACK FOR A VISIT.

HE'LL BE HELPING ANSWER THE QUESTIONS NEXT WEEK.

DON'T FORGET TO STOP BY THE BACKYARD FARMER WEBSITE AT BYF@UNL.EDU.

SIGN UP FOR OUR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER.

HAVE A GOOD 4TH OF JULY WEEKEND.

GOOD NIGHT.

GOOD GARDENING.

WE'LL SEE YOU ALL NEXT WEEK RIGHT HERE ON BACKYARD FARM.